Device for applying adhesive substances to tapelike articles



E. A. HILL'ARD DEVICE FOR APPLYI Jan. 5, 1954 2,664,851

. NG ADHESIVE SUBSTANCES T0 TAPELIKE ARTICLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1,

Filed April 11, 1952 INVENTOR.

ELNEQ 4. H/Aea E. A. H PPLYIN Jan. 5, 1954 ILLARD G ADHESIVE SUBSTANCES TO TAPELIKE ARTICLES DEVICE FOR A Filed April 11, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet? INVENTOR. ELMse 4. 5 /444420,

Patented Jan. 5, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DEVICE FOR APPLYING ADHESIVE SUB- STAN CES TO TAPELIKE ARTICLES This invention relates to a device for applying a relatively viscous, liquid substance such as water solvent or plastic resin adhesives, to articles such as braids, fringes, and the like.

More specifically, the invention has reference to a hand or bench tool particularly adapted for use in the upholstering trade, for the purpose of applying glue or other forms of liquid adhesives to various furniture trimmings such as gimp, braids, fringes, and other tape-like articles that are to be secured adhesively to a furniture piece.

At present, adhesive substances are applied to articles of the character described by hand, in the art to which the invention relates, and commonly, brushes, paddles, and other types of conventional applicators are used.

It will be readily appreciated that the conventional method employed, for applying adhesive substances to braids or fringes is tedious and time consuming, and accordingly, the broad object of the present invention is to provide a device which will facilitate measurably the application of a selected adhesive to articles of the type stated.

I believe it to be worthy of observation, in this regard, that the mere provision of an applicator that will coat an adhesive substance upon flexible objects of the character referred to would not, in and of itself, adapt the applicator for use in the upholsterers trade. This is due to the fact that the adhesives used in this trade in many instances are adversely aifected by exposure to air, and excessive exposure of the adhesive to the atmosphere tends to dry and thicken the adhesive substance so as to reduce considerably its ready usability.

Therefore, an important object of the present invention is to provide an applicator of the type stated novelly designed in a manner to reduce to a minimum the surface area of the substance that will be exposed to the damaging action of the atmosphere, the device constituting the present invention being provided with a valved reservoir which can be sealed off completely when the device is not in use, and being further provided with a well from which the adhesive substance is drawn during use, with the well being so constructed as to reduce to a minimum the area of the adhesive exposed to air.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide, in a device of the character referred to, an article-coating means in the form of a rotatable wheel, which will be rotated by the article drawn thereover, a novel, adjustable guide means being associated with the wheel in such a manner as to releasably hold the article to be coated'in engagement with the periphery of the wheel;

Yet another object is to provide a device as described wherein the rotatable wheel, its associated guide means, and a wheel support assembly will be formed as a single unit capable of being removed bodily from the well of the device, thus to facilitate cleaning of the parts, said cleaning being a necessity when highly tacky, quick drying adhesive substances are used.

Still another important object is to provide, in

association with the removable wheel support assembly, a valve assembly that controls the sealing of the reservoir, which valve assembly will be so associated with the wheel support assembly as to cause the wheel support assembly to be engaged within the well of the device whenever the valve is open, and to be adapted for removal from the well whenever the valve is closed.

A still further important object is to provide, in an applicator as described, a construction wherein the reservoir, well, wheel support assembly, and the control means for adjusting the guide and valve, will all be so designed and related to one another as to permit the tool to be used either as a bench tool or one that can be manually grasped.

Yet another object is to provide a construction, in a toolas stated, wherein the parts noted in the paragraph immediately above will be so related as to be capable of being grasped with facility during the actual operation of coating an article with an adhesive substance.

Other objects will appear from the following description, the claims appended thereto, and from the annexed drawing, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a tool formed in accordance with the present invention;

, Figure 2 is a side elevational view;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view in which the side opposite that shown in Figure 2 is illustrated;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on line 44 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an end elevational view, taken from the left of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Figure 2; and

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view through the valve assembly, taken on line 1-1 of Figure 4.

In the drawings, there has been illustrated a resaligned vertically with a relatively large fiuid flow opening [8.

A plurality of laterally projectedilugs-dll are formed upon the inner end of the reservoir l0, said lugs being apertured for extension there through of connecting screws 22. The-screws-.-22-

serve to secure a valve block'if'fiikedly but removably to the inner end of the reservoir,- saidvalve block being of rectangular cross sectional configuration (Figure 7) and having openings: --2 B at the' several corners thereof-through A which the screws 22 extend. The screws, afterextend ing'through the valve block, are threadedly:engaged in the inner end -otawell 'designatedgen'e erally-by the reference :numeral- 28 For thepurpose of: preventing leakagebetween theopposite"sides of the-valve block: anduthe reservoir and the wellrespectively, gaskets- 30 are'ernployei Formed in the valve block :is-a-flow passage 32 shaped cross sectionally like and registering with the iluid flow-opening 1-8, and spacedvertically of and above the flow passageis anair [passage 34' registering withtheair vent opening. Hi.-

A tapered valve seat -38is alsoformed inthe valveblock; the passages 32,. 34 communicating with-opposite-sides ofwsaid valve .seat, as best shown-in Figure 4.

A valve 3iisof tapered,- plug-like formation, andis-rotatably mounted in the valve seat .38, said-valve having. an air passage :40wdisposed above a flowpassage 42. In-theopen positionot the valve 36, the passages 40, 42-- are adapted .to providecommunication between the reservoir and the well} However, when the valve is rotat'ed through-9'0 degrees of 'a circle; communication between the reservoir and 'well will be elosedofi'. completely, so-as to seal. the reservoir, andthus prevent the reserve quantity of adhesive disposed therein from being affected adverselybyexposuret the atmosphere.

Byre'ason of. the construction so far-illustrated and described;v it may be notedthat ordinarily the adhesive contained within. the reservoir I0" is protected against exposure toth'e atmosphere. However, when thedevice is to be used and the valve is open, .theadhesivewithin the'reservoir will gravitate to'th'e interior oi'th'e" well28, through the registering "fluid 'flow passages of the reservoir, valve, and well As adhesivepours into the well; air will'enterlthe reservoir throu the registering air passages, so :as 'to: assurefthe continued flowingoi'adh'esive irom'the reservoir tothe well during the regular use of-thedvlce;

Meansis provided for manually operating'the valve 36; and to this ..end,' th'evalve is-integr'ally formed, .at its upper end,..w-lth av non-circular valve stem 44 having an axial, threaded socket. A valve handle liihas an opening receivingt-he stem 44, a screw 48being threaded into the socket oithe stem for the. purpose. of .securingthe handle to the valve.

As may be noted from handle 46 formed, atits inner-end, with a Figure 1, the valve laterally projected lock member 49 which, in the open position of the valve will project longitudinally of the device into the space above the well 28. In the closed position of the valve, the

look member 49 will be shifted out of its position above the well.

Means is provided for holding the valve 35 firmly seated within the valve block, said means including a sotEmSO thraadidintn ithe'lower end or the valve, a-spring being circumposed about said screw and being held under compression between the head of the screw and a washer 54 that engages the underside of the valve block.

Consideringgthe construction of the well 28,

was will be'n'oted from Figures 1 and 6, the well includeseparalleL upstanding side walls 56, said wells being integral with an inner end wall 58. 'Tlieinnenen'dwall 58 is formed with apertures N n-registering with the passages 32, 34 of the valve block.

The. well. 28 also is formed integrally with an inner 'liottom wall portion 6 4', that merges, 'intermediate the opposite ends"ot'thewell, into an arcuate outerendiwalltli, formed at its' upper endwith an inturned, rounded lip 68.

for-"this purpose that the well is'rounded' at its outer end; the arcuate configuration of the end wall 6 Bbeing'adapted-to' cooperate withan applicator" wheel,- that -is mounted in the well and whi'chwvill be described hereinafter, for the purpose-'or'reducing to aminimum the 'exp'osedsurface area of theadhesive within the well.

The curved construction ofthe wall ot the well further is adapted to-"permit 'closer contactot the device with =the trimming thatis being applied toan artioleof-furnituraat the beginning of-the operationofcoating the 'trimming and posedwin: close proximity-to the respective-side walls I 56 oi. the r well. in the inserted position of the assembly 6!.

Thersideiplates r10, II-are fixedly connected:

r in. spacedzrel'ationrby connecting pins 14 (Figures ianda'fi); saidmins'beingformed atone end'withreduced, threaded extensions 16 threadable' into ccn'espondingl-y'threadedrecesses provided in the siderplate 12. At their other ends, the-pins :14 are formed with. axial, threaded: recesses. receiving screws-:l'llith'at'extend through the side plate 10. Mountedfor: rotationr between the respective side-:platesis 'Eaniapplicatorfwheel: 80, said wheel extendmgnownwardlyrwithin the well and being thussadapted: m :be partially immersed in an ad-hesive substa-nce:disposed within the well for.

coatingjo! the-periphery ofthe wheel during use of. thm-tooh Any suitableurotative mounting of the-wheel can-be employed, and as-one example of such a mounting, l'showuthewheel as being mounted upona medially splined axle 82 shoulderedadjacent .-its .opposite .ends,. and havingrreduced ends'extendinginto suitable bearing:

openings .provided in.the respective side plates.

For thepurpose of applying a desirably thin; 7 uniform -coatinzcof adhesive to-the periphery f v the wheel, gauge plates 84, 86 areemployed (Fi ure 1), said gauge plates being mouted upon the top edge of the side plate 10. The gauge plate 84 is formed with spaced, aligned slots 88, receiving screws 90 that are threadable into the side plate 10, thus to permit the plate 84 to be adjustably positioned relative to the periphery of the wheel, thereby to permit a coating of a selected thickness to be applied to the wheel during rotation thereof. The gauge plate 86 is provided with similar slots, and is similarly secured to the side plate I0.

Formed upon the plates 84, 86 respectively are lateral extensions 92, 94, said extensions being disposed transversely of the wheel and having beveled edges arranged in close proximity to the wheel surface (Figure 4). The extensions, as will be appreciated, will be shifted toward and away from the surface of the wheel when the adjustments in the gauge plates are made.

The gauge plates are not secured to the side plate 12, but the side plate I2 is formed with a longitudinal slot 96 (Figure 5), that extends along I the inner surface thereof, and receives the free side edges of the extensions 92, 94 of the gauge plates,

The gauge plate 85, as will be noted from Figure 1, is provided with a rearwardly directed projection 98, that will underlie and be engaged by the lock member 49 of the handle 46, in the open valve position. By reason of this construction, the valve handle 46 is adapted to retain the entire wheel assembly within the well 28, said handle cooperating with the lip 68 in this regard, in a manner best shown in Figure 4. When, however, the valve handle 46 is partially rotated for the purpose of closing the valve, the lock member 49 will be shifted out of engagement with the projection 98, and will permit the entire wheel assembly to be removed bodily from the well, to facilitate the cleaning of said assembly and well.

It is also worthy of note, as shown in Figure 1, that the projection 98 is relatively narrow, so as to provide open spaces I00 at either side thereof. This is for the purpose of permitting a user to dip a brush or small paddle into the well, if, for example, a braid or other piece of trim is being applied in close quarters into which the tool cannot be extended.

Mounted for up and down sliding movement, in a plane normal to the axis of rotation of the wheel 80, is a flat guide plate I02, said guide plate being disposed in close proximity to one face of the wheel. The guide plate I02 is provided, at opposite ends thereof, with guide pins I04, said pins extending transversely of the wheel and being spaced circumferentially of the wheel, as best shown in Figure 4. The guide pins, when the guide plate I92 is shifted toward the axis of the wheel, will engage a piece of braid, trim. or other tapelike object, and will force said object into engagement with the periphery of the wheel. Thus, by pulling the object longitudinally of the tool, the wheel will be rotated by said object, and the object will thus be coated with the adhesive picked up by the wheel during rotation thereof.

A slide I06 is secured to the outer surface of the guide plate I02, intermediate the opposite ends of the guide plate. This slide is grooved vertically at its opposite ends, for slidable engagement with the confronting, spaced edges of upstanding extensions I08 formed integrally upon the side plate 12. Screws I01 (Figure 2) are employed to secure the guide plate to the slide.

The guide plate is normally urged in a direction away from the axis of rotation of the wheel,

and this will be eifective to normally dispose the guide pins I04 in an inoperative position in which they will be spaced substantially away from the periphery of the wheel 80. A spring I I0 is employed to urge the guide plate to said inoperative position, said spring seating in a recess formed in the underside of the slide I06, and in a recess formed in the side plate 12, as best shown in Figure 6.

Manually operated means is provided, however, for urging the guide plate and its associated uide pins I04 into an operative position, against the pressure of the spring, and to this end, there is utilized 'a link II2 (Figure 3) pivotally connected by a screw I I4 to the slide I06, and by a screw I I6 to a control handle H8. As will be noted, the control handle I I3 is pivotally connected as at I20, at one end of the control handle, to one of the upstanding extensions I08,

It will thus be noted that when the handle I I8 is swung upwardly, the guide pins I04 will be adjusted to their inoperative position, movement of the guide pins to their operative, lower position being effected by downward swinging movement of the handle I [8.

The handle I I8, as will be seen, is of areuate formation, the handle having a straight intermediate portion and having a downwardly offset free end portion I22 that is extended laterally over the reservoir I0 (Figure 1) to provide a thumb rest.

The device, when used as a hand tool, is used as follows. First, the trimming to be glued is unrolled from a spool thereof, to a desired length. With the device set conveniently upon a work bench or the like, and with the guide pins I 04 disposed in their inoperative position, a few inches of the trimming is passed across the wheel to pick oif some of the adhesive.

This portion of the trimming is then applied to the beginning point of the work, running toward the operator. The device is then grasped in one hand, the reservoir providing a handle and the thumb rest being conveniently positioned for de- 5 pression by the thumb of said hand. The other hand of the user is now disposed to hold the trimming clear of the work. The guides I04 will now hold the trimming against the wheel 80, and the trimming can be applied to the work throughout its length, with adhesive being applied thereto due to rotation of the wheel by the trimming during the application of said trimming to the work.

When the operation is completed, the user need merely rotate the valve handle to the valve closing position thereof, and this will permit the wheel assembly to be removed bodily from the well. The valve is then opened momentarily, and the device tilted to permit the adhesive left in the well to flow back into the reservoir. The valve is then closed, so as to seal the reservoir.

If water solvent adhesive is being used, the entire device can be dropped into a container of water, awaiting its next use, it being understood in this connection that the device would be constructed wholly from non-corrosive materials. If, however, plastic resin adhesives are being used, the separated parts of the device would be cleaned in an appropriate solvent, and then rinsed off in water.

It is believed apparent that the invention is not necessarily confined to the specific use or uses thereof described above, since it may be utilized for any purpose to which it may be suited. Nor is the invention to be necessarily limited to the specific construction illustrated and described,

linomsuch construction: is. only intended to be illustrative ofrthe principles or, operation-v and the meansvpi'escntly devised to" carry' ,outvsa-id' prine ciples; it i being; considered. that. i. the invention compmhends. any: minor. change in ;construction tbatrmay be. permitted "within the scope of the appended claims.

What :is. claimed is:

1. A device for coating an adhesive substance upon? tapelikearticles; comprising: a well adapted: as :a container for anadhesive: substance;:: ail wheel support assembly" removably mounted 'inssaid welltand including. fixedly con nected; spaced'sideplates; an applicator wheel rotatably mounted on and. between the side plates int-position to be partially immersed in said sub stannegfo'rrcoating of the (periphery of the wheel with-:thesadliesivesubstance responsive to. rota-V tion or the wheel; a guide plate disposediadiaeent one face .of..the wheels andsupported upon .one oithe side platesifor sliding-movement inapiane tto the. axis of rotation of the wheel; a spring'held under compression between the-guide plateand said; :oneside :plate; tensionedito nor mally urge the guide plate away from said axis; a: controlzhandle :pivotally cormectedctosaidz'one side 1 plate and, operatively =x-connected with' the guide plate to shift the samestoward saidcaxis against the pressures-of the spring;- and; guide pins affixed--to.- thezguide plate in; close proximity to the wheel and spaced circumferentially ofnthe w-heeifincspanallelismr with: said: axis; .said 1% Hide pins "being 7 shiftable, responsive to sliding move-, ment iofnth'e guide. plate, toward and away :from the wheel to operative and inoperative positions respectively" and beingrarranzciwhen; adjusted towardthb wheel,rfor guidingptran'article to be coated engagement with; said, periphery,- thereby to effect rotation. of thetwheel and'coatingicof :the article responsive improvement, of said article in; the direction; of its length: While 1 in the wheel engaging position thereof;

2. A device for coatingz'anadhesive substance upon-1 tapeelike articles; comprising aareservoir adapted to hold adhesive. substance and shapedms a: handle; a swell :secured to tone end of and-communicating with the reservoiraforflow ofi-saidzsubstance intothe-well iromth'e reservoir arwheel supportassemblywemovably mountedr in said'welland including; fixedly-connected; spaced side plates; an applicator whee1.rotatably:mount-; ed onrand'between' the side plates-impositionto :be .-'-1;:artially''immersedfin saidsubstance,v for coating :of the periphery ofitheawheel witlrthe substance responsive to: rotation. of the 1 wheel; ar guide z'plate1 disposed: adjacent one. face. oicthe wheek'andzisupported on one: of :the side" plates for sliding. movement in .a plane'normal to the axis-oirotationof the wheel; a spring held:under compression betweenthe guide plate andisaid one side plate tensionedrto normally :urgewthe guide platesaway from said axis; a .contro1handle pivotally nonnectedtoxsaid one side plate and operatiilebliconneoted twith the guide plate ztoshift the sameaztoward said" axis against .th'e pressure of: the-spr n and guide .pins afixed-to the-guide plate irrclose proximity to the -wheel andspaced circumtemntially of the wheel-.inzparallelismxwith said axis, saidguidepins. being. shiftable; responsive to: sliding movement of the guidev plate, towa-rd and away from-the wheeltooperative and inoperative positions respectively and beings-arranged;.when shifted toward'the wheel, for guiding;of an articleto be coated into. engagement with said periphery, thereby to effect rotation of the wheel and coating ofthe article responsive to movementzofv said article. in the'direction of its length while 1 in the \wheel engaging position thereof;

3. Adevice'for coatingan adhesive substance upon tape-like articles, comprising: .a reservoir adapted to hold an adhesive substance and shaped as a handle; aivalve blocksecured to one end of the reservoir; a valve rotatably mountedin said block-for movement to'open and-closed positions respectively; a-wellsecured "to the valve block and communicating: with ;the reservoir; in" the open valve'position, for how of- 'saidsubstance between the well and reservoir; a wheel support assembly'removably mounted in said well and including fixedlyconnected spaced side plates? a gauge plate arranged transversely of and'sup ported 'on said wheel assembly; a-valve=handle secured to the valve for rotating the sameand engaging saidgauge plate in the-open valve position; to hold said assembly against removal from thewelL'said valve handle in the closed valve po-' sition freeing said assemblyfor removal thereof from' the well; an applicator wheelrotatably mounted onand between the side plates in position-to be partially immersed in said substance, forcoating;of'the peripheryof the wheel with said substance responsive.=to' rotation oi the wheel; a' guide plate disposed'adjacent one face of 'thewheeland supported on one of the-side plates for: sliding movement. in a plane normal to the axis of rotation of thewheel; aspring held under compression between the guide plate and said-one sid plate anditensioned to normally urge the-guide plateaway from said axis; a'contr'olvhandle 'pivotally connected to said' one side plateand operatively'oonnected with the guide plate to-shift"the.-same toward said axis against article responsive to movement of said article in the direction of :its. length while in, the wheel engaging-positionthereof;

ELMER'A. HILLARD.

References ,Cited inrtheifile ofthis patent Number Name Date 771,888' Ward Oct. 11, 1904 2,031,597 Gray Feb. 25, 1936 

